Inhalant abuse

Background

• first described in the 1950s
• most common abusant in preteens 11-13yo
• most abused: gasoline, solvents like toluene, spray paints, lighter fluid, air fresheners, glue, and electronic cleaners (halogenated hydrocarbons)
• includes: "sniffing", "huffing", "bagging", and "dusting"

Clinical Features

• euphoria, hallucinations
• neuro: impaired motor activity, ataxia, depressed mentation, withdrawal potential
• cardiac: widened QRS, prolonged QT, syncope, arrhythmias
• may cause dermal burns
• "sudden sniffing death" - thought to be occur with sudden catechol surge on a "sensitized" myocardium

Management

• if teen founded down with sudden death with history of recent inhalant abuse, recommended to try a beta-blocker (propanolol, esmolol) given the myocardial sensitization in addition to CPR, etc

See Also

Toxicology (Main)